How BlackCatArtStudios got started
Introduce your Etsy shop and tell us your story. How did you begin and decide on what to sell on Etsy, and how do you create your products?
I began selling on Etsy after a friend encouraged me to get my artwork out there. She recommended Etsy to get me off the ground. The name Black Cat Art Studio comes from the term "black sheep." I've always considered myself the proverbial "black sheep," but if I had to choose one animal to represent myself, it would be a cat. They're independent and fierce! It began with me selling my paintings. Eventually, I branched out to painting on glass, and now I work almost exclusively with glass, either painting it or creating lovely custom stained glass pieces from it. My supplies are sourced mostly from local art supply shops; occasionally, some dollar shops have some good quality supplies.
Favorite items
What are your favorite items? What makes these so special? Why do you think these items might be selling well?
It's certainly hard to pick one favorite. I love all of my stained glass designs; most of them are fun and hilarious, while others are more serious and beautiful. Some books sell better than others. I think the products that get the most sales and shares are my custom-painted flower pots and sugar canisters. People love the fact that I do custom work tailored to their likes and home decor as well, so I get a lot of commissioned work.
Getting sales on Etsy
How long did it take for you to earn your first sale and how do you currently attract customers to your Etsy shop?
My first sale came pretty quickly, as I had a few loyal fans and followers from sharing my artwork and listing in various Facebook groups and from sharing on Instagram. Instagram is my main go-to for advertising my pieces and attracting followers and buyers to my shop.
Managing BlackCatArtStudios
How do you manage your shop? Are you running solo or do you have any team members? What tools or services do you use to run your shop and how do you handle fulfillment?
It's just me running the show here. The only apps I use to run my shop are the "Sell on Etsy" app. I write all the labels and carefully package the glass parcels myself. I go through a lot of "fragile" tape, lol. I try to get already-made items shipped out as soon as possible. Sometimes commissioned pieces take a little bit longer to fulfill and complete, but I'm grateful for my customers' patience so I can create a fabulous piece they will cherish forever. I try to keep in touch with my clients when it comes to commissioned orders. If I know the project will take me a little longer, I'll send them photos of my progress just to keep them in the loop.
The future of BlackCatArtStudios
What goals do you have for your shop in the future?
My main goal for my shop is to just keep creating. I dream of having a larger studio one day, so those are goals I look forward to achieving. In the meantime, to get to those goals, all I can do is keep making cool things. Once I have a larger studio, I'd love to invest in a kiln and a pottery wheel, get some of my other supplies out of storage (like my sewing machine and serger machine) and be the jack of all trades that I am. I'd love to have the kind of art studio where I can make a little bit of everything.
Advice for new sellers
What’s your advice for a new seller starting an Etsy shop?
My advice for a new Etsy seller would be to: "Be constantly creating and active about your work on social media." Show it off! Show people where to buy it. Please SHARE, SHARE, SHARE! Just get your work out there. Put yourself out there.
Some sellers really get inspired by hearing numbers. Feel free to share these if you like.
Question: How much is your monthly revenue?
Answer: It varies. Sometimes it's nothing (usually because I'm working on a large number of orders at the same time and haven't had time to share on social media or update some listings.) Artwork can take time, and I think a lot of my clients understand this.
Question: What is your average profit margin?
Answer: Again, this also varies due to the variety of items I have listed and the cost of some items.
Question: What is your shop’s conversion rate?
Answer: I accept funds in Canadian dollars.
